Decalcomania



Patented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENT OFFICE DECALCOMANIA Ferdinand W. Humphner,Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mid-States Gummed Paper Co., Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Delaware Application July 25, 193s, serial No. 221,221

11 Claims.

This invention relates toa decalcomania and the like.

Thermoplastic adhesive decalcomanias have been heretofore employed inwhich wax 'mixed 5 with various ingredients has been used as thethermoplastic adhesive. Such products, however, have been foundunsatisfactory and have not gone into commercial use. 'I'he wax providesa release, but forms an unsubstantial supporting base for the imprintwith the result that a clean and clear, sturdy transfer is not produced.Furthermore, the wax melts freely in large areas, tending to break theimprint during the operation of transferring and to form an unsightlyand irregular body about the imprint. 'Ihe desired decalcomania productis one in which the entire body is removed from the paper forming atenacious and sturdy transfer.

An object of this invention is to provide a type of printed paper incombination with a transfer thermoplastic material or adhesive whichenables a print to be transferred to paper, cloth, etc., the imprintbeing one which is not affected by water and which cannot be scratchedoff. A further object is to provide a transfer which can be accuratelyfreed from the paper without affecting' other areas. A further object isto provide a transfer equipped with a film of heat resisting lacquer,either clear, opaque, etc. Other specific objects and advantages willappear as the specication proceeds.

'I'he invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments by theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side view in elevation ofa decalcomania embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same;Fig. 3, a side view in elevation of a modified form of decalcomaniaembodying my o invention; and Fig. 4, a plan View of the structure shownin Fig. 3.

I have discovered that an effective and controllable decalcomania can beformed through the use of very simple combinations. For example, I havefound that by employing a thin sheet of rosin-sized paper, together witha rosin body thereon which serves either as the transfer proper or as anadhesive supporting a heat resisting body, that excellent results can beobtained. The rosin-sized paper in combination with the rosin bodythereon seems to bring about the unexpected result of causing the rosinbody to be transferred and separated completely from the rosinsizedpaper while substantially preventing the g rosin body or any portion ofit from sinking into (Cl. l11--33) the paper. At the same time, therelease is sure and accurate, only that portion of the rosin body on theopposite side of the heating instrument being released. Why thecombination of a rosin-sized paper and a body of rosin thereon producesthese results, I shall not attempt to explain or set forth the theory.'Ihe fact is that a complete, thorough and accurate transfer is. readilyeffected so as to form upon the cloth or paper a tenacious and completetransfer, leaving l0 l the rosin paper free. The whole operation is madecomplete through the use of the two materials, namely, rosin-sized paperand the rosin body or the like.I In practice, the rosin body is normallyprovided with a pigment. It will be observed that the rosin body formingthe transfer not only forms the imprint but also serves as its ownadhesive for fixing it to the new surface.

In other words, through the use of a rosin sizing on the thin paper, theheated rosin body tends to separate from the rosin-sized paper and fixesitself preferentially and in permanent form upon the new surface. Toeect the transfer, heat is applied to the side of the paper opposite tothat to which the rosin body is secured. The heating operation iscarried' out in the ordinary manner used with thermoplastic transfers,usually by applying a heated iron to the exposed paper surface.

As one application of the invention, I and that a word, such as acollege name, can-be formed through the use of a rosin body on arosin-sized paper and the name completely transferred to a shirt orsweater so as to form thereon a perfect imprint which cannot be removedby washing or scraping. Likewise, designs of all types, colored oruncolored, can be readily transferred to cloth, paper, and othersurfaces.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I employ with a rosin-sizedpaper, a rosin adhe- 40 sive thereon, together with a heat resistinglacquer upon the adhesive and an imprint carried by the lacquer restingupon the adhesive. On the outer side of the lacquer is a thermoplasticadhesive of any suitable type. On the bottom side of the paper are gaugelines which enable the operator to accurately determine where the heatshould be applied for releasing the letter or design on the oppositeside thereof. With this construction, a lacquer body is released uponthe application of heat and the same may be applied to a surface by thethermoplastic adhesive on the outer side of the lacquer. If desired, theadhesive on the inner side of the lacquer may be employed as the bondingmedium.

If desired, the over-all film of lacquer may be eliminated and asupporting film placed merely over the imprint.

It will be understood that the imprint may be directly upon the rosinadhesive and supported thereby or the rosin adhesive itself may beemployed as the transfer.

For satisfactory results, I prefer to employ as the base paper a thinsheet of rosin-sized paper weighing approximately eight pounds to twelvepounds per ream folio. This light or thin paper, which is almost tissuepaper, forms a very effective base for the rosin or thermoplasticadhesive. It prevents the rosin from owing into the paper While at thesame time, for some reason, causing the rosin to lose its 'preferencefor the rosinsize sheet and cling to the new surface. The rosin sizingwhich, for the purpose of illustration, is shown somewhat as a separatelayer, is in effect part of the paper, forming an external coating ofall the fibers.

The rosin body or adhesive which I have found may be successfully usedconsists of a rosin or a combination of rosins having a melting point of100 F. and upward. This will be varied according to the speed ofoperation required. I also incorporate resins of different types so asto lower the temperature required for application or to increase therate of iiow on to different surfaces. The transfer may be made uponmany surfaces, such as cloth, paper, metals, etc. With respect to therosin or resin forming the thermol release base, one may employ a rosinor a resin, or both in combination, either natural or artificial, which,by itself or in combination with compatible materials, has a meltingpoint within the range of 100 F.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth specificmaterials, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may varythe combinations and employ equivalent substitutes without departingfrom the spirit of my invention and, in the appended claims, I intend tocover all equivalents which may be thus used.

The foregoing detailed description .has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, and arosin imprint thereon.

2. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized thinpaper,'and a pigmented rosin body thereon, releasable therefrom forapplication to another surface upon the application of heat to saidpaper.

3. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-size paper, a rosinadhesive carried thereby, and a pigmented imprint carried by saidadhesive.

4. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, athermoplastic adhesive thereon, an imprint upon said adhesive, and aheat-resisting body carried by said imprint when forming a supportingbody therefor.

5. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-size, athermoplastic adhesive thereon, an imprint upon said adhesive, and aheat-resisting body carried by said imprint and forming a supportingbody therefor, said supporting body being provided on its outer surfacewith a thermoplastic adhesive surface.

6. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, arosin adhesive thereon, a heat-resisting body upon said rosin, and animprint upon said body.

7. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, arosin layer thereon, a heatresisting body upon said rosin, an imprintcarried by the bottom portion of said body, and a heat-responsiveadhesive carried by the top portion of said body.

8. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, arosin layer over said paper, an imprint on said adhesive, aheat-resisting lacquer extending over said rosin, and a thermoplasticadhesive over said lacquer.

9. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, a,rosin imprint on the one side thereof, and gauge lines on the oppositeside of said paper, said gauge lines indicating the area to be heatedfor the release of the imprint on the opposite side thereof.

l0. A heat-responsive decalcomania comprising a rosin-sized paper, arosin adhesive thereon, an imprint carried by said adhesive, and asupporting body for said imprint, said paper being provided on the sideopposite said imprint with gauge lines indicating the area to be heatedfor the release of said imprint.

11. A heat-responsive decalcomania compris- -ing a rosin-sized paper,and a rosin transfer body carried by said paper. FERDINAND W. HUMPHNER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No.v 2,19o,ho5. February 15, 1911.0.

FERDINAND w. HUMPHMSR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as ollows: Page 2,second column, line 16, claim 5, for the words "a rosin-size" read aresinsized paper; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe readwth thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office. I I

Signed and sealed this 19th day 'of March, A. D. 19LO.

Henry Van Arsdale,

`(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents

